About Dangerfield's Comedy Club in New York

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Dangerfield's is a New York City comedy nightclub that was opened in 1969 by the late comic Rodney "I Don't Get No Respect" Dangerfield. It claims to be the longest-running comedy nightclub in the country, and continues to attract top-flight comedians from the comedy club and late-night TV circuit.

The Basics

Dangerfield's is located at 1118 First Avenue in New York City. The club's phone number is (212) 593-1650 and its website is accessible at www.dangerfields.com.

Description

The club is housed in an old high-rise and is readily identified from the outside by its black awning with the club name emblazoned on it in big white letters. Inside, Dangerfield's is your quintessential basement-style comedy club, dark and grungy, with a small stage and the only light coming from small lamps on the tables with orange, graffiti-covered shades where guests are free to scribble their own words of wisdom. All this gives the club high marks for character; if you've ever visualized a stereotypical New York comedy club, this is it.

Typical Weather

Albany, New York in

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The temperature in Albany, New York in September tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Albany, New York in September is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Albany, New York in September is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

Performers

Up to five comedians perform each night, with the headliner generally a recognizable name who is a veteran of the national comedy club circuit. Often headliners have some late-night TV experience under his belt as well, either through appearances on Comedy Central specials or guest slots on late-night TV talk shows hosted by David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. Unlike at most clubs, there's no amateur night. Special guests stars are frequently added into the lineup. Among the big stars who have performed at Dangerfield's are Jerry Seinfeld, Andrew Dice Clay, Jim Carey, Tim Allen, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and Roseanne Barr.

History

Dangerfield had been touring the country doing standup, while rapidly gaining a national fan base through stints on "The Merv Griffin Show," "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." But when his wife, Joyce Indig, took ill and later died, Dangerfield was determined to provide a more stable home life for his two young children, Melanie and Brian, so he opened the club and performed as a regular headliner.Years later, daughter Melanie Roy-Friedman would recall in a USA Today story by Ann Oldenburg, "It was a unique experience because he was home every day and worked at night. He opened Dangerfield's (comedy club) so that he could stay in New York to raise my brother and myself." Dangerfield also opened his club up to new and promising talent, giving a wide variety of unknowns one of their first moments in the spotlight. The Notable Biographies entry on Dangerfield cites a People magazine story in which comic Carrot Top was quoted as saying, "Rodney didn't care what kind of comedy you did. As long as you were a comic, you were a part of his fraternity." Dangerfield died in October 2004 at the age of 82.

Reviews

Dangerfield's continues to be a popular attraction in New York City, although reviews yield a mixed bag. One blogger on New York City Search wrote, "Even if you don't like comedy clubs, this is absolutely worth seeing--a true classic and in a great neighborhood. There were laughs nonstop and the people were good, too." But another opinion said, "The place looks like it's stuck in the 1970s. The tables and chairs are small and wobbly, positioned [at] weird angles [that] make it very difficult to see the show unless you are placed right in front of stage.... Two out of the five comedians were pretty good; the others were less than satisfactory and the MC wasn't funny at all, he was actually quite annoying."

References

About the Author

Thomas K. Arnold is publisher and editorial director of "Home Media Magazine" and a regular contributor to "Variety." He is a former editorial writer for U-T San Diego. He also has written for "San Diego Magazine," "USA Today" and the Copley News Service. Arnold attended San Diego State University.